The Mighty Ducks ‘Flying V’ Is Bullsh*t And So Is Gordon Bombay’s Legacy

[30 for 30 narrator voice] “What if I told you your entire childhood was a lie? That the greatest hockey play in Hollywood history was totally moronic and completely illegal? That no one can out-skate the truth? From ESPN Films: ‘The Flying V: Total Bullsh*t,’ presented by Levi’s.”

There’s a good chance that you already knew the infamous “Flying V” play from The Mighty Ducks trilogy was garbage. It wouldn’t fly in a real life hockey contest comprised of players with a shred of competency. After all, there’s a reason we don’t see NHL teams breaking out the duck-inspired formation when they desperately need a goal late in a game. It’s not only easy as hell to stop if you’ve got a single good defensive player, it’s also outrageously illegal for a variety of reasons.

There are some immediate notable takeaways here. First? Worst. Defense. Ever. Seriously though, even if you’re being attacked by a strange formation you’ve never seen before…why on earth would you line up like this on defense?

That coach needs to be fired and banned from teaching hockey ever again.

Second, how was interference not called on the Ducks? There were, like, at least three different guys who blatantly interfered on the play.

A) The Hawks lining up at the blueline like that is a legitimate defense used in the pros. It’s most common near the end of the game with a lead or on the PK. It’s effective because most teams have set plays and this formation is so uncommon, more often than not, the team with the puck will veer back and try it again or they’ll veer back and dump the puck in. #3 appears to have screwed up and missed his assignment. Though, if we’re being honest, #99 probably screwed up because generally #3 is a d-man’s number and 99 is a center number. The center should be the one attacking the person with the puck, not giving him space. By doing so, it causes the Ducks to go offside. Someone should have been benched for that screw up.

2) Best way to stop the flying V, which always takes the team offside to begin with, is, the formation used in your first critique of the film.

Q) Bombay never taught his team defense. Ever. So much so Vonway (who is the worst captain in history of hockey), threw a freaking temper tantrum when he got benched after numerous warnings to back check and play defense.

IV) Bombay and his moral compass was broken. Take D2 and how he treated Banks’ wrist injury. Last time I checked, an ex lawyer hockey coach doesn’t have the medical expertise nor equipment to medically clear someone.

6W) Bombay was also pretty sexist. Connie and Julie the Cat were better than most of the boys and neither saw much ice time until D3, when Orion took over.

TL/DR: This scorching hot Sriracha weak Sauce taek is about 10 years too late and not nearly as good as many others that came before it.

That positioning by the Hawks is actually fine. But how the hell are they right on top of the Ducks and no one can make a fucking poke check? Then they’d have a breakaway against that shit fat goaltender.

The best defense against the Flying V is what Iceland did. Just plow the fuck through it. Even if the front player doesn’t have the puck, he can’t restrict the defense’s access to the puck. If the defense breaks at the puck at full speed, especially if it is held by one of the players in the back, the entire Ducks SC1 and DEF1 would have concussions due to getting blown up.

In the Flying-V video, in the overhead shot it appears Hall receives the puck before crossing the blue line. However, like you mention, the poor editing cuts from the overhead shot right before we see Hall receive the puck and cross the blue line. While the other camera angle shows Hall receive the puck well past the blue line.

And I’m surprised you didn’t mention that they did show how the “Flying V” is flawed and can easily be stopped, which Iceland did because they expected it and were prepared for it.[projectlandmine.files.wordpress.com]
(Not that it took much preparation, during pre-game The Dentist could’ve simply told his players or drawn up how to stop it.)

And I believe this was at least somewhat intentional because in D3 they doubled-down on reiterating the “Flying V” is a “little league” trick play that won’t work when the defense is expecting it.[www.youtube.com]

That gut blow you taking to my childhood memories of this movie be too much….

But this is really great read. I am not up on hockey like others in this thread, but I this gets me thinking about doing a basketball one for movies like The Air Up There and White Man Can’t Jump (even though that has kinda been done here and there for the latter)…..

….sigh. i know all about that….If you think if he were to actually do the FULL crane kick like in karate kid you think Couture would not have blocked it!?? I’m talking about exactly the crane kick from the movie. Knee up, hands out to the sides and waiting for the guy to start coming at him. You think that would actually work???

This made a friend and myself really dissect Bombay’s behavior through the films and….he really is an awful person who should be behind bars. Example:

Gordon Bombay is a shark of a lawyer who gets a DUI, and only gets a suspension from the firm because his boss seems to think he needs a break. He gets assigned to community service by coaching children on how to play hockey. His first major decision? To endanger the lives of not only himself, but the ten or so CHILDREN that he’s supposed to coach, as WELL as the low-wage earing limo driver who used to be a roadie. He does this by telling his driver to take the limousine….a mutli-thousand pound vehicle….and DRIVE IT ONTO THE ICE THAT THE CHILDREN ARE PLAYING ON. And his rationale for why this is ok? Quote, to the driver, “It’ll be alright”, and to Ms. Conway “I know when it’s safe to drive on. I JUST KNOW, alright!” End quote. He then precedes to begin dating his worst player’s mother and give him preferential treatment after trying to get him to FAKE AN EYE INJURY during a game, and screams at him in the locker room when he refuses. This is example one of about 20 as to why Gordon Bombay is NOT the role model our children deserve.